Norton took aim at both the earmarking system and Democratic opponent Sen. Mike Bennet, who has not signed the pledge.

“Porkbarrel spending and vote-buying through earmarks are against everything this great nation stands for,” Norton said in a statement. “With no accountability or transparency, earmarks are a breeding ground for fraud and a dishonest method of circumventing the democratic process.”

Large chunks of that total went to an RTD corridor, to build a medical center at a military base and to support a number of Colorado-specific criminal justice and homeland security projects.

A spokesman for Bennet said the senator has publicly said he will not seek earmarks for private companies, but will request funds for non-profits and local government agencies. Bennet also supported rules that would make the earmark process more transparent by requiring lawmakers to post their project requests online, campaign manager Craig Hughes added.

“Michael Bennet continues to fight against Washington, D.C., businesses-as-usual backroom deals,” Hughes said in a statement. “That’s why … he has been fully transparent with every request.”

Hughes used Norton’s attack to once again link her to the uber conservative Tea Party movement, which Americans for Prosperity supports.

Conservative radio host Jeff Crank heads Americans for Prosperity’s Colorado branch, and said the pledge is aimed at curbing wasteful spending in Washington as deficits mount and the public worries about the economy.

“Frankly, our goal is to make our members aware and the voting public aware of who has and hasn’t signed the pledge,” Crank said.

He said Republicans Jimmy Lakey, a candidate for the 7th Congressional District, and state Rep. Cory Gardner, a contender for the 4th Congressional District, have both signed the pledge as well.

Earmarks are a way that our congressional leaders ensure that the taxes Coloradans pay are returned to Colorado. Refusing to submit earmark requests would be the equivalent of abandoning Coloradans at the benefit of taxpayers in other states. I hope that future stories by The Denver Post about the topic of earmarks provide a little balance about how earmarks can be beneficial.

Earmarks are a way that our congressional leaders ensure that the taxes Coloradans pay are returned to Colorado. Refusing to submit earmark requests would be the equivalent of abandoning Coloradans at the benefit of taxpayers in other states. I hope that future stories by The Denver Post about the topic of earmarks provide a little balance about how earmarks can be beneficial.

Because the Denver Post won't tell you who exactly the “conservative” Americans for Prosperity is, here are a couple of links that show how AFP actually is a so-called “astroturf” organization created by companies in the energy and tobacco industries to pose as a “grassroots” organization. So, essentially what you've got — and what the Post didn't make clear — isthat these candidates are pledging fealty to the agenda of a front group for energy and other corporate interests, under the guise of earmark reform:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americans_for_Pros…http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Amer…http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/05/29/af…Remember this as you read Ms. Norton's remarks about “vote-buying” and “transparency,” two concepts that appear to be missing in these pledges to obey AFP's agenda…

Because the Denver Post won’t tell you who exactly the “conservative” Americans for Prosperity is, here are a couple of links that show how AFP actually is a so-called “astroturf” organization created by companies in the energy and tobacco industries to pose as a “grassroots” organization.

So, essentially what you’ve got — and what the Post didn’t make clear — isthat these candidates are pledging fealty to the agenda of a front group for energy and other corporate interests, under the guise of earmark reform:

Because the Denver Post won't tell you who exactly the “conservative” Americans for Prosperity is, here are a couple of links that show how AFP actually is a so-called “astroturf” organization created by companies in the energy and tobacco industries to pose as a “grassroots” organization. So, essentially what you've got — and what the Post didn't make clear — isthat these candidates are pledging fealty to the agenda of a front group for energy and other corporate interests, under the guise of earmark reform:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americans_for_Pros…http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Amer…http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/05/29/af…Remember this as you read Ms. Norton's remarks about “vote-buying” and “transparency,” two concepts that appear to be missing in these pledges to obey AFP's agenda…

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.